Link rot occurs when a cited webpage becomes unavailable. As we know, webpages are constantly changing. Many cited webpages suffer from link rot by the time an article is published. These changes have been problematic for any citations to broken links.
Perma.cc (perma.cc) and The Wayback Machine (www.archive.org/web), two free* webpage archiving tools aimed at addressing link rot, allow users to view old versions and save current versions of webpages!
So how can you use the Perma CC?
1. Set up an account
To preserve web pages with Perma.cc, you need an account. Anyone can create an account. *Perma.cc limits free usage for personal accounts (you can only save ten records per month).
Perma.cc does offer unlimited free accounts to law review students and faculty. Faculty may contact the library to set up accounts (including accounts for your RAs). Law Review students should contact the library or their Law Review Board.
2. Preserve a Page
Add the URL for into the bar, and select the name of your journal or name to affiliate it with that organization or name. Click on the blue "Create Perma Link" button. After a few seconds, you will see your Perma.cc record. The link will become permanent after 24 hours. Links can only be deleted within these same 24 hours.
4. Add an extension
For more information about how this resource works, view the Perma CC Guide.
Need training or help setting up a Perma.cc account? Contact the law library via email at lawref@law.tamu.edu, stop by the reference office, or schedule an appointment with a librarian. We are happy to assist.
So how can you use the Wayback Machine? Here are three ways...
1. View old web pages
Visit https://archive.org/web. Enter the URL of any website and select Browse History. You can then browse by date to see that URL as it existed in the past.
2. Save a new page
Visit https://archive.org/web. In the lower-right corner, enter the webpage in the box titled "Save Page Now" (see below image). The page will be captured immediately, provided the site owner allows automated archiving.
3. Add a Wayback Machine extension
For more information about how these resources work, check out the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine FAQs.